STALKER 2 Archives

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Get in here, stalker: Stalker 2’s Patch 1.3 is here with a whopping 1,200 fixes

Stalker 2's 1.3 update introduces over 1,200 changes, including improvements to mutant AI, adjustments to artifacts like the Weird Pot, increased damage from explosive props, and enhanced durability for unique weapons. The A-Life system has also received general improvements. GSC Game World encourages player feedback for further development and has expressed resilience in the game's development despite challenges. A 15% discount is currently available on Steam for new players.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

It launched upside down and on fire, but busted and brilliant Stalker 2 has attracted 6 million players to the Zone in the last 3 months

The game Stalker 2 received a review score of 83%. It has attracted 6 million players, a number that could fill Prypiat 120 times. In comparison, Monster Hunter Wilds sold eight million copies in three days. The game's development faced challenges due to the invasion of its home country. GSC Game World plans to release extensive patches to improve the game and revive the A-life AI system. The author intends to revisit the original Stalker trilogy before playing Stalker 2 again.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

I became a domestic terrorist to steal a lightbulb in the best immersive sim I’ve played this Steam Next Fest—and it isn’t even a Next Fest demo

Peripeteia is a cyberpunk immersive sim set in an alternate reality of Poland, where players control a character named Marie who awakens disoriented and augmented in a warehouse. The game features a labyrinthine environment filled with gas-masked soldiers and surreal elements, such as a bar playing the USSR's National Anthem. Players must navigate creatively to complete quests, such as retrieving a bulb from a planetarium, which involves planning and stealth, including bombing a government building. The game recently entered early access, showcasing its potential for complex gameplay.

AppWizard

February 27, 2025

A Selection of New PC Games Worth Playing in 2025

In 2025, the PC gaming landscape features several must-play titles, including: - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: A highly anticipated installment with impressive gunplay, a return of zombies, and new weapons and features. - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl: A sequel set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, focusing on survival and resourcefulness. - WoW The War Within: An update to World of Warcraft introducing a new Story Mode feature, attracting returning players. - Marvel Rivals: A game featuring superhero battles that has gained popularity for its exhilarating gameplay. - Civilization VII: Released in February, it has received positive reviews for enhancements, including new Ages and expanded resources. Other notable games include Age of Mythology Retold, Fallout London, Black Myth Wukong, Frostpunk 2, Ara History Untold, Metaphor ReFantazio, and Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Unreal Engine often gets flack for games running poorly or stuttering, but as Avowed demonstrates, it’s really about how devs use it and the pressures of time

Black Myth: Wukong, Frostpunk 2, Palworld, Stalker 2, Tekken 8, Silent Hill 2, and Avowed are all developed using Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). These games have shown inconsistent performance on PC platforms, with social media often blaming UE5. Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, has erratic frame rates and unconventional upscaling techniques but is visually impressive and generally smooth. Silent Hill 2, developed by Blooper Team, faced bugs and inconsistencies at launch, although patches have been released. Both Obsidian and Blooper Team have experience with Unreal Engine, raising questions about performance issues. Critics compare UE5 unfavorably to Id Tech 7, a proprietary engine known for high performance, due to the extensive customization available to its developers. Unreal Engine is versatile for game development and other applications but presents challenges in transitioning from simple projects to AAA games. Epic Games is addressing common issues like shader compilation stutter and traversal stutter in UE5, but large developers face challenges in updating code without introducing new issues. The timing of game releases often leads to less-than-ideal launch states, with the expectation of post-launch fixes. Avowed may also require adjustments after release, depending on its commercial success and the resources available to Obsidian, who is also working on a sequel to The Outer Worlds using UE5. The main challenge for developers is time, which affects the quality of game releases.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Crysis 4 is officially ‘on hold’ as Crytek lays off 15% of its workforce, saying it ‘cannot continue as before and remain financially sustainable’

Crytek has laid off approximately 15% of its workforce, equating to around 60 employees out of 400, due to challenging market conditions. As a result, the development of Crysis 4 has been put on hold, although it is not officially canceled. The studio will focus on expanding Hunt: Showdown, which has seen increased player engagement following its recent update.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Alan Wake 2 set such a high technical bar last year that few games in 2024 came anywhere near, but it wasn’t all abject disappointment

Alan Wake 2 debuted late last year, leading to assumptions of a 2024 release. Dragon's Dogma 2 launched in March but had excessive hardware demands and inconsistent performance. Nixxes Software's port of Horizon Forbidden West showcased effective traditional rendering. In May, Nixxes also released the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which lacked ray tracing but was well-executed. June saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for Elden Ring, which did not include engine updates, causing performance issues for PC gamers. In August, Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws featured ray tracing but faced performance issues. September brought a port of God of War Ragnarök and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, both performing well. The Silent Hill 2 remake encountered glitches and performance issues on PC, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggled at launch. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl had visual appeal but suffered from performance problems and required patches for stability. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performed well on lower-end hardware but was glitchy. High-profile titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are anticipated for 2025.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

Spirit of the PC 2024: Stalker 2

Stalker 2 is a PC game released in 2024 that retains the quirky charm of its predecessors while incorporating modern enhancements. It features systemic oddities and unconventional design choices, creating a lively world filled with unexpected events. The game personalizes character names, such as 'Vanya Badass' and 'Gena Sleepy,' enhancing player interactions. Players experience unpredictability and nostalgia reminiscent of earlier gaming days, with each journey offering unique encounters. Despite a rocky launch with some bugs, the game captivates players with its immersive experience and distinctive charm. Stalker 2 challenges players with a hostile environment and unpredictable gameplay, ultimately earning the Spirit of PC award for its mature and complex gaming experience.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

If 2024 proves anything, it’s that mainstream success hasn’t made PC gaming any less weird—and thank God for that

PC gaming has transitioned from a niche hobby to a significant competitor against consoles, highlighted by the success of titles like Baldur's Gate 3. The Steam wishlist charts showcase a diverse range of games, including janky survival games, indie debuts, and obscure titles that gain unexpected popularity. Notable games this year include a survival game with 25 million players, a poker roguelike, and Stalker 2. Discussions around Game of the Year awards featured unconventional games, reflecting the eclectic nature of PC gaming. Despite the rise of console-first releases on PC, the platform continues to embrace a variety of genres and interests, maintaining its unique identity and charm.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Steam’s Best of the Year highlights the top-selling and most-played games of 2024

Steam's annual Best of The Year feature for 2024 showcases top-selling games organized into categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The Platinum category includes standout releases such as Space Marine 2, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Elden Ring, and Baldur's Gate 3. Free-to-play titles like Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, and Destiny 2 also contribute to this group. Cyberpunk 2077 has made a comeback in the Gold category with a Very Positive rating. The Silver group features Dragon's Dogma 2, Diablo IV, and Stalker 2, which sold a million units within two days of its launch. The Bronze category includes budget-friendly titles like Balatro, Silent Hill 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and No Man's Sky. Every game from last year's Platinum category is present in 2024, except for Starfield. Steam tracks peak concurrent players, with titles like Black Myth, Elden Ring, and Path of Exile 2 reaching 450,000 or more players. Popular Steam Deck games include Balatro, Dave the Diver, and Hades, while new releases like Manor Lords and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero are in the Platinum section.